LONG ISLAND. 59 



V 



for two hundred years. The Peconic Kiver is the longest, 

 measuring fifteen miles. These take their rise not only in 

 the central dividing ridge, but all along both shores above 

 and below the line of high water-mark, though they are 

 most numerous upon the south side. Nearly all abound in 

 trout. The most celebrated are Success Pond, Eonkonkoma, 

 Coram, Great Pond, Fort Pond, Killis Pond, and the con- 

 siderable bodies of water at Smithtown, Carman's, Islip, Pat- 

 chogue, and Oyster Bay. Great Pond is two miles long, and 

 Ronkonkoma a mile and a half. 



The unusual facilities and attractions which these waters 

 afford to sportsmen were recognized a century ago. The best 

 localities were quickly appropriated by private individuals, 

 who improved and stocked them at considerable expense, 

 and leased fishing privileges to city sportsmen at a fixed rate 

 per diem, or $1 per pound for all fish taken. Several were 

 subsequently secured by clubs, who laid out ornamental 

 grounds, built spacious club-houses, and added largely to the 

 original stock offish. The principal of these is the South Side 

 Club, near Islip, which comprises a hundred or more members. 

 But there is a coterie of fifteen gentlemen, who enjoy at 

 Smithtown the use of angling privileges equal to those of a 

 majority of the private preserves. They have four ponds, of 

 which the chief are Phillips' Pond and Stump Pond. The 

 former is noted for its big fish. Their domain is an old- 

 fashioned farm, which literally flows with milk and honey. 

 There are orchards that bend with fruit in its season, and 

 with congregated turkeys always in the still watches of the 

 night. Great willow trees environ the house, and through 

 their loosely swaying branches the silvery moon may be 

 seen glistening on the ponds. Through a wicket-gate and 

 under overarching grape-vines a path leads to the " Lodge," 

 within whose smoke-grimed precincts none but the elect 

 may come. Its walls are hung with coats and old felt 

 hats, and suits of water-proof, with creels and rods, and all 

 the paraphernalia and complex gear of a sportsman's reper- 



